Tote box



July 18, 1967 J. 5. GALLO TOTE BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1965 J. S. GALLO July 18, 1967 TOTE BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1965 United States Patent 3,331,547 TOTE BOX Joseph S. Gallo, 938 East St, Walpole, Mass 02081 Filed May 25, 1965, Ser. No. 458,606 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) The present invention relates to an improved tote box for potted plants and the like, and more particularly to a tote box kit which is readily assembled as a part of a packaging operation to fit a pot or other container of any specified size or shape.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a novel and improved tote box, and a kit from which my improved tote box is readily assembled as a packaging operation during which the elements of the box are adusted to the size of the article to be packaged, and are fastened together to produce a tote box which is accurately fitted around the contained pottend plant or similar packaged item.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tote box kit comprising a rigid pasteboard bottom element and a pasteboard side wall strip which are especially constructed and arranged to be assembled in accordance with the size and shape of the packaged item to provide a sturdy, closely fitting tote box therefor.

With these and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear the several features of the invention will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pasteboard side wall strip forming part of the tote box kit;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pasteboard bottom element of said tote box kit;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspectivee view illustrating the fiat bottom element and the sidewall strip which has been bent along the panel separating scores to a cylindrical shape preparatory for fastening to the bottom element;

FIG. 4 is a side section of my improved tote box assembly assembled on guide line 4 of FIG. 2 substantially as shown in the exploded perspective view FIG. 3, and with a potted plant supported therein;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 4 illustrating an arrangement of tote box supporting a vase of generally conical shape;

FIG. 6 is afragmentary section similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the upper section of the side wall folded down to reduce the height thereof;

FIG. 7 discloses a modified side wall strip;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembled modified tote box;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating the outwardly bent bottom tabs as shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the nested side Wall assemblies.

Referring to the drawing the tote box which forms the subject matter of the invention comprises a flat bottom element 10 and sidewall strip 12 which is so shaped and scored as to be readily fitted around the potted plant or similar item to be packaged and finally to be secured in place on the base 10. The base element and side wall strip are both made of pasteboard, preferably a reasonably stifi grade of cardboard, which is readily scored and bent to a desired shape, and is readily fastened in place as by stapling to provide an inexpensive, and at the same time, a sturdy tote box of good quality. While cardboard is preferably employed it will be understood that any material having qualities comparable to the cardboard disclosed may be employed, and is intended to be included fit) 'ice

within the definition of the term pasteboard as used herein.

The bottom member 10 preferably consists of a stiff grade of cardboard which may be of any suitable shape such as the square illustrated and which must in any event be large enough to provide a surface outside the sidewall enclosure to permit the outwardly bent bottom tabs to be engaged and stapled thereto. A series of concentric circles numbered consecutively from 3 to 7 marked on the top face of the bottom element 10 can be compared with the diameter of the article to be packaged, and serve as an indication for shortening the side wall strip, and for positioning the same for stapling to the bottom element 10.

The side Wall strip 12 shown in FIG. 1 which forms a further element of my improved tote box is scored along a line 14 lengthwise of the strip, this score representing the bottom edge of the side wall when assembled with the base. A series of cuts 16 are made into the bottom edge of the side wall strip, each cut terminating at the point of intersection with the lengthwise bottom marking score 14. The cuts 16 are spaced from one another to provide tabs 18 of a convenient size to accept a standard staple.

In the preferred construction shown a series of scores 20 are formed in the side wall strip 12 extending from the base score 14 to the upper side of the strip thus marking the side wall strip olf into a series of panels 21. These scores permit the strip to be readily bent at each said score 20' so that the strip is molded into a multisided generally circular shape. It will be noted that the cuts 16 are so placed that each alternate cut 16 forms a continuation of a score 20. With this construction two adjacent tabs 18 are hinged to each of the panels 21 so that each individual tab 18 may be readily bent to an outwardly facing right angle position with respect to the adjacent panel 21 after the sidewall strip has been bent along the scores 20 and secured in a substantially cylindrical shape. Two additional scores 22 and 24 are provided along the length of the strip 12, spaced from one another and [from the upper edge of the strip. These scores permit an upper portion of the sidewall to be folded inwardly before it is bent to a cylindrical shape to lessen the height of the sidewall if so desired. For the support of containers having irregular shapes, as for example the container 26 illustrated in FIG. 5 having a generally conical shape, that segment 28 of each panel 21 to be folded inwardly is separated from the adjacent panel segments 28 along the dividing scores 20 from the upper edge to the bending point at the score 22 or 24 as the case may be, and is then bent downwardly to a variable extent, which may, for example, be slightly more than aright angle, so that when the side wall strip is rolled and fastened into 'a cylindrical form these individual segments 28 will project inwardly into engagement with the irregularly contoured container 26.

The operation of assembling the base and sidewall strip elements of my tote box kit into a fully assembled tote box which is accurately fitted to a potted plant or similar article to be packed will be described briefly as follows:

The florist will have at hand a supply of cardboard bottom elements and sidewall strip elements and a conventional staple gun. The article to be packaged is now compared with the ring markings 3 to 7 on the bottom element 10 in order to determine the diameter of the tote box and sidewall which when assembled will most closely fit the article. A portion of the sidewall strip is now removed by tearing off along that score 20 having a marking corresponding with the marking of the ring on the bottom element chosen as providing a sidewall enclosure of the correct size. The sidewall strip 12 is now bent along each of the scores 20 into a multi-sided generally cylindrical shape, and the two ends of the sidewall strip are now fastened together by staples'30 as shown in FIG. 3. The bottom tabs 18 are bent outwardly, and the cylindrically formed sidewall strip is positioned on the bottom member 10, being fastened thereto by staples 32 as shown in FIG. 4.

In the event that it is proposed to package a conically shaped vase such as that suggested at 34 in FIG. the upper end sections 28 of the panels 21 are separated along the scores 20, and are then bent downward-1y and inwardly so that they will be brought into abutting relation to the surface of the packaged vase. In the event that a tote box having lower sidewalls is desired the upper edge sections 28 of the several panels 21 may be bent downwardly and inwardly as a unit so that these sections 28 will occupy the folded down position suggested in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 to inclusive illustrate a modified form of I tote box which includes the base and side wall strip adapted to be bent and stapled together in a generally cylindrical shape of the desired diameter, with bottom tabs adapted to be bent outwardly for stapling to the base. FIG. 7 discloses a sidewall strip 38 which is arcuately shaped to be molded or turned into the shape of a slightly tapered cylinder. As here shown the transverse scores provided with the side wall strip 12 of FIG. 1 have been omitted. Two longitudinal scores following the arcuate outline of the strip are provided at 40 and 42 along which the upper edge portion of said sidewall can be torn off to adjust the height of the tote box.

A series of transverse cuts 44 formed in the longitudinal bottom edge of the side wall strip 38 provide a series of bottom tabs 46 by means of which the side wall strip can be stapled to the flat bottom element 10. In order that the tabs may be readily bent outwardly in relation to the continuously rounded side wall element of the tote box there is provided a longitudinally extending score 48 which cuts across the base of each tab 46. Further there is provided adjacent the base of each cut 44 a short transverse cut 50 which substantially reduces the length of the hinge about which each tab 44 is bent. The length of hinge is thus made sufiiciently short so that the tab 44 can be bent at right anglesiwith relation to the cylindrical 7 surface of the sidewall element withinthe stretch tolerance of the scored pasteboard.

' 'The tote. box of FIGS. 7 to 10 is assembled for use in the same manner as that described for the construction of FIGS. 1 to 6. The sidewall strip 38 is bent into the shape of a slightly tapered cylinder as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the two ends being fastened together by staples 52. The bottom tabs 46 are bent outwardly as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the cylindrically formed sidewall 38 is then attached by staples 54 to the bottom member 10. With the modified construction it is contemplated that the tote box may be partially assembled by the manufacturer to the extent that the arcuate side strip 38 is bent into the circular shape and the staples 52 are inserted to providea preassembled sidewall unit. A series of such assembled side strips 38 may now be nested in the manner shown in FIG. 10. The florist is then required only to select the a fastening receiving area exterior to and surrounding said sidewall enclosing area, said flat pasteboard element being marked with'a series of concentric sidewall locations enclosing areas of dilferent sizes, and a pasteboard sidewall strip of a length to extend entirely about said enclosed area with the ends thereof overlapping, having a series of transverse cuts from one longitudinal edge of said sidewall strip providing bottom edge tabs depending from said area enclosing sidewall strip to be bent outwardly therefrom, said sidewall strip being marked with indicia corresponding to each of said concentric sidewall locations indicating the length of said strip suitable for each said sidewall location, fastening meansfor fastening together said overlapping sidewall strip ends, and fastening means for securing the said outwardly bent tabs to the supporting area of said bottom element;

2. A tote box kit according to claim 1 in which the pasteboard sidewall strip is formed with spaced transverse scores for bending to form said enclosure and providing panels therebetween, transverse cuts coinciding with the lower ends of said transverse scores, said transverse scores providing bottom edge tabs depending from said panels, and a bottom edge score extending lengthwise of said sidewall strip at the base of said tabs providing a hinge about which said bottom edge tabs are bent outwardly.

3. A tote box kit according to claim 2, in which a score a is formed in said sidewall strip lengthwise thereof spaced from the upper edge providing with the upper end portions of said transverse scores separable'upper end sections of said panels adapted for bending inwardly.

4. A tote box kit according to claim 1 in which the pasteboard sidewall strip is a cardboard sufficiently flexible to be disposed about said enclosed area along a curved path, a score is formed in said sidewall strip across the base of said tabs, and short cuts extend inwardly'from the edges from each edge of said'tabs along said score there by forming for each tab a short hinge on which said tab is bent outwardly relative to the curved position of said sidewall strip about said enclosed area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,770,819 7/1930 Tamke et a1. 22.937 1 1,925,136 9/1933 Conover 229-55 1 2,053,678 9/1936 Page 229-55 3,148,444 9/1964 Stark 22941 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. R. PESHQCK, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A TOTE BOX KIT ADAPTED FOR ASSEMBLY AS A BOTTOM AND SIDEWALL PACKAGING ENCLOSURE FOR POTTED PLANTS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A FLAT PASTEBOARD BOTTOM ELEMENT PROVIDING A SIDEWALL ENCLOSING AREA AND A FASTENING RCEIVING AREA EXTERIOR TO AND SURROUNDING SAID SIDEWALL ENCLOSING AREA, SAID FLAT PASTEBOARD ELEMENT BEING MARKED WITH A SERIES OF CONCENTRIC SIDEWALL LOCATIONS ENCLOSING AREAS OF DIFFERENT SIZES, AND A PASTEBOARD SIDEWALL STRIP OF A LENGTH TO EXTEND ENTIRELY ABOUT SAID ENCLOSED AREA WITH THE ENDS THEREOF OVERLAPPING, HAVING A SERIES OF TRANSVERSE CUTS FROM ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID SIDEWALL STRIP PROVIDING BOTTOM EDGE TABS DEPENDING FROM SAID AREA ENCLOSING SIDEWALL STRIP TO BE BENT OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID SIDEWALL STRIP BEING MARKED WITH INDICIA CORRESPONDING TO EACH OF SAID CONCENTRIC SIDEWALL LOCATIONS INDICATING THE LENGTH OF SAID STRIP SUITABLE FOR EACH SAID SIDEWALL LOCATION, FASTENING MEANS FOR FASTENING TOGETHER SAID OVERLAPPING SIDEWALL STRIP ENDS, AND FASTENING MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAID OUTWARDLY BENT TABS TO THE SUPPORTING AREA OF SAID BOTTOM ELEMENT. 